Madrid’s iconic Bernabéu Stadium sets the stage as the NFL heads to Spain in 2026. The Falcons will host the Cincinnati Bengals in this historic matchup.
The Atlanta Falcons will go across the pond once again in 2026 as the team announced Tuesday they will play in Madrid, Spain at Bernabéu Stadium on November 8th, week 9 of the season.
Falcons President and CEO Greg Beadles expressed his excitement about the announcement. "We are truly honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to host the Cincinnati Bengals at the Bernabéu, one of the world's most iconic venues.”
The NFL continues to look to strengthen its reach around the world, expanding the relationships by playing multiple games internationally this season. In fact, the league has expanded to playing nine games outside the United States this year in locations such as Melbourne, Australia, and Paris, France.
"This matchup represents a unique opportunity to connect with fans in Spain, and we sincerely appreciate the NFL's continued commitment to growing the game on a global stage. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, we are thankful for the opportunity to begin building meaningful connections with Spanish supporters who will also experience our great city of Atlanta on the world stage," said Beadles. This is will be the second straight year the NFL plays in Madrid as the city hosted the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins in front of more than 78,000 fans.
As for Atlanta, this will mark the sixth opportunity to expand its brand power outside the United States. The team last played in Europe in 2025 when they played in Berlin. The Falcons have not played the Bengals since the 2022 season. The team currently is on a three game losing streak against Cincinnati and hasn’t picked up a win against the AFC North squad since a 39-32 victory during the 2010 season.
The game will be broadcast on NFL Network and is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 a.m. EST.